Back

From MUN Podiums to Business Plans: Lessons in Speaking, Selling & Surviving Medial From conquering MUN podiums to making my mark in startups, research writing, and academics, I’ve navigated it all — and all of this before turning fourteen. Juggling across such different arenas has taught me more than any single textbook could. Here are my top lessons, distilled from my craziest wins, toughest failures, and the grind in between: 1. Care About Your Work, Not the Crowd Most people today are more occupied with watching each other than working on themselves. The noise of opinions, gossip, and “what will they think” is endless — and irrelevant. Your work is the only currency that truly holds value. Obsess over it. 2. Skip Netflix You don't need to quit everything to succeed — but you must quit the comfort trap. For most, Netflix (or similar apps) is an escape, a cozy cocoon of procrastination. Comfort kills ambition. Swap that binge series for a binge work session on your goals. 3. Don’t Make Rest Your Reward Reward yourself after hard work, yes — but don’t make “resting” the ultimate prize. If all you crave after a win is sleep or laziness, you train your brain to link success to slowing down. Aim for rewards that fuel your momentum, not ones that kill it. 4. Enjoy the Grind Consistency is never born out of pure willpower — it comes from falling in love with the process. Even on your worst days, keep one eye locked firmly on your end goal. If you enjoy the climb, the summit will be unstoppable. 5. Use Small Tasks as Breaks That 5-minute break you planned? It can snowball into a 2-hour scroll fest. Instead, switch to lighter tasks — draft a short post, review something, brainstorm ideas. Keeps your flow running and distances you from distractions. 6. Remember: Nothing is Permanent (Personal Advice) Friendships, relationships, “forevers” — none come with a warranty card. One choice, one moment, can change it all. That’s why anchoring your self-worth to your work, and not to people’s presence in your life, is vital. Final Reflection Every single one of these lessons isn’t just theory — they’re battle scars and trophies earned from my own experience, hustling across different worlds before even finishing school. Bonus Advice: “Return to bed with a broken back and red eyes — but never with the thought of regret.”